I have a Cosine Wherry. It's the best rowboat I have ever been in, which isnt saying all that much I guess, but it is really nice. And I have seen one with a sliding seat. Mine weighs 105#, but the design is 95# I believe. I can get it up on a truck but it is a lot easier on the trailer. Also, take a look at a Skua from Middle Path boats. Pretty similar to the Cosine.

Regarding kit over plans, it's faster not to have to mill your own strips, or make the forms. (Or make the panels if you go that route.) Cost overall is about the same I think, unless you get creative scrounging wood.

: What a great board. Ineed a little advise here. I am a rower. Ibuilt a 17ft.
: Modified Herreshoff Rowboat. I love it but its a bit heavey for one man to
: get in and out of the water. I an looking at a Mill Creek 16.5 by CLC. My
: reasonimg being that it can handle a Sliding seat for rowing or searve as
: a double paddler. Is there somethig better out there? And is there a great
: advantige to a kit over plans(I am a wood worker by trade). Any input
: would be apreceated.